All posts tagged ‘Game Consoles’

At my house, I am the fix-it person for a number of reasons. I really like fixing things instead of throwing them out. Today’s throw-away culture is not good for the environment and not good for the wallet. I also like to keep old tech around for possible uses in projects. When I have to get tools, or parts for Apple devices I always check iFixit.com to see what they have to help with the repair. They not only stock parts for repairs, they also host a repair guide site, which is a great source whether you are repairing an iPhone, a Nintendo DS or replacing the brake pads on a 2005 Ford Focus. The repair guide is a wiki format and constantly being updated so if you have some repair knowledge feel free to contribute.

Who the heck is Ben Heck you ask? Benjamin J. Hekendorn is the modder behind such great hacks as The portable Atari 2600, The XBox Laptop, and the PS3 Laptop. He is the author of Hacking Video Game Consoles and now star of his own internet show sponsored by element14 an online community of engineers and hardware hackers.

Ben's Closed Workstation b y Dave Giancaspro

I caught up with Ben at The World Maker Faire in NYC to talk about modding, hardware and his show. Ben showed me his portable workstation which folds up into an easy to carry case and unfolds into a full sized work area.

Ben was doing an XBox 360 Laptop build demo at Maker Faire and talking with hardware hackers about tools, components and of course gaming systems. So what’s Ben’s indispensable tool? A pair of tweezers. Ben says he reaches for them more than any other tool when he’s wrist deep in console guts.

We discussed the mod he featured in the first episode of his show. A gamer who lost use of his right arm asked if Ben could mod a controller for him so he can resume playing. Ben modified an XBox controller with a foot pedal and a relocated the right analog stick to the bottom so it can be rested against the right leg to operate it.

Ben's Open Workstation by Dave Giancaspro

Ben says mod challenges like this get his top priority. This is a side of modding that seldom gets seen. Sure it’s cool to build a SNES into a lunch box ; but when you apply those skills to a real problem and help someone, you get a whole different kind of satisfaction.

If you check out episode one Ben goes through the build of the modified controller with you. There are some good tips and techniques that Ben shares throughout the build. Each episode has two builds. The first is the Mod Challenge sent in by a reader. Then comes The Big Build. Ben is building an XBox 360 laptop over several episodes taking the viewers through the process.

Ben’s show runs every other Monday on Element14. This week Ben is building an automatic can crusher as well as continuing the XBox 360 laptop build. To check out Ben’s show or to suggest a mod challenge for Ben, head over to Element14.

Ben has also been running a a blog with an active forum, Podcasts and Ben’s independent films. Check out Ben Heck’s Blog for more tips, techniques and inspiration. Then take some of your kids old toys and make something new with them.